WASHINGTON – Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen and Majority Leader Steve Foti today filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the Assembly to challenge the agency’s reformulated gas rules. First District Congressman Paul Ryan joined them as well as other Members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation at a press conference in front of the federal courthouse in support of this action.

“We have repeatedly requested a common-sense temporary waiver of the RFG mandate,” said Ryan. “My colleagues and I have written EPA Administrator Browner, on more than one occasion, in support of a waiver. Governor Thompson has requested a waiver. Despite this, and despite evidence suggesting that the RFG situation in the Chicago/Milwaukee area is contributing to the high price of gas, the EPA refuses to grant a waiver. We are at our wits’ end.”

“Wisconsin consumers can no longer tolerate delays. I’m proud to join Speaker Jensen, Majority Leader Foti, the Wisconsin Assembly, and other Members of the Congressional delegation in support of this legal action,” added Ryan. “These gas prices are taking a big bite out of the paychecks of all southern Wisconsinites, and we need immediate relief.”

Ryan went on to say: “It comes down to this: Wisconsinites are now paying for pollution largely generated elsewhere. The EPA’s RFG mandate does not take this into account – making it clearly unfair. Wisconsin’s representatives have time and again made reasonable requests for a temporary waiver of the mandate. It’s a shame that the only reason Washington bureaucracy seems to listen to is a court decision.”